ASRock FM2A85X Extreme6 AMD Socket FM2 Motherboard Review

Manufacturer ASRock
Name FM2A85X Extreme6
Type / Chipset Socket FM2 CPU / AMD A85X Chipset
Dimensions +++ 25 mm (46 mm radius) around the socket to the next capacitor or other mainboard parts – for further information see Fit for Fan. The space to the next bigger heatsink is approx. 35 mm (50 mm radius). The overall size of this ATX mainboard is 305 x 245 mm.
Slots ++++ 2x pci, 5x PCIe 2.0: 1×16/1×8/1×4/2×1, 4x DDR3-800 – DDR3-2400 max 32GB RAM
Connectors

++++ 1x PS/2, 1x IR (optional), 1x CIR (optional), 7x SATA3, 1x eSATA3, 1x serial (optional), 1x 10/100/1000 Mbps base-T Ethernet (Realtek RTL8111E), 6x USB 3.0 (2x of them internal, slot bracket for additional ports is not included), 8x USB 2.0 (6x of them internal, slot bracket for additional ports is not included), 8-Channel ALC 898 onboard 7.1 sound with 5x 3.5 mm connectors (1x optical S/PDIF out, 1x int. HDMI S/PDIF out, 1x int. Aux, ext. Line in, ext. Mic, ext. Front out, ext. Rear out, ext. Center/Subwoofer) and 6x fan connectors (2x 4-pin and 4x 3-pin).

Vcore ++++ BIOS between 0.6000 Volt and 1.5500 Volt in steps of 0.0125 V and -0,300 to +0,300 Offset
Multiplier ++++ BIOS between 14x and 63x (max. multiplier depends on CPU)
Host Frequency ++++ BIOS between 100 and 136 MHz
VIO/VDD ++++ VMem (DDR3 voltage) 1.165 – 1.800 Volt, APU PCIE 1.208 – 1.563 V, CPU NB 0.6000 – 1.5500 V, GPU 1.199 – 1.542 V, SB: 1.10 – 1.40 Volt.
Performance* ++++ Benchmark ratings with some video cards and benchmark tools.

SiSoftware Sandra 2012 Benchmark ratings with AMD A10-5800K Trinity processor. SiSoftware Sandra 2012 Arithmetik Processorperformance in Windows 7 RC: 41.9 GOPS SiSoftware Sandra 2012 Multimedia Processorperformance in Windows 7 RC: 95.2 MPixel/s

3DMark11 Entry Benchmark ratings with AMD A10-5800K Trinity processor. 1x Sapphire HD6870 1024MB AMD Radeon HD6870 PCIe 2.0 video card: 3DMark11 Entry Test in Windows 7: E5033 (GPU: 6010 / Physics: 3700 / Combined Score: 3555) 1x onBoard AMD Radeon HD7660D GPU: 3DMark11 Entry Test in Windows 7: E2018 (GPU: 1909 / Physics: 3654 / Combined Score: 1352)

3DMark Vantage Entry Test Benchmark values with AMD A10-5800K Trinity processor. 1x Sapphire HD6870 1024MB AMD Radeon HD6870 PCIe 2.0 video card: 3DMark Vantage Entry Test in Windows 7: E25626 (GPU: 49061 / CPU: 10532) 1x Sapphire HD4870 512MB AMD Radeon HD4870 PCIe 2.0 video card: 3DMark Vantage Entry Test in Windows 7: E22285 (GPU: 36213 / CPU: 10346) 1x onBoard AMD Radeon HD6550D GPU: 3DMark Vantage Entry Test in Windows 7: E17757 (GPU: 23014 / CPU: 10536)

3DMark06 Benchmark values with AMD A10-5800K Trinity processor. 1x Sapphire HD6870 1024MB AMD Radeon HD6870 PCIe 2.0 video card: 3DMark06 in Windows 7: 17382 3DMarks 1x Sapphire HD4870 512MB AMD Radeon HD4870 PCIe 2.0 video card: 3DMark06 in Windows 7: 15536 3DMarks 1x onBoard AMD Radeon HD7660D GPU: 3DMark06 in Windows 7: 7671 3DMarks

Manual and Labeling

+++ Complete and well placed motherboard description and good manual. This mainboard comes with a detailed manual in different languages. ASRock followed our often mentioned suggestion about the missing BIOS section in the manual and now offers a seperated Software Setup Guide with UEFI BIOS Setup section. Additionally an ASRock XFast USB quick reference guide was included.